Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least three people overnight, local officials said Friday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that U.S. envoys are expected in Kyiv in the coming days for renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.
The latest strikes come as the conflict stretches into its fifth year, with aerial attacks between Russia and Ukraine intensifying while fighting along the eastern and southern front lines remains largely deadlocked.
Russian strikes, once concentrated primarily during nighttime hours, have increasingly been reported during the day as well, adding to concerns for civilians in cities and communities far from the front line.
U.S. ENVOYS EXPECTED IN KYIV
Zelenskyy said preliminary dates have been arranged for diplomatic meetings in both Moscow and Kyiv, although previous U.S.-led efforts have yet to produce a clear path toward ending the conflict.
According to the Ukrainian president, Kyiv’s negotiating team remains in frequent contact with U.S. representatives and is preparing for substantive talks.
Zelenskyy stressed that continued American involvement is crucial and said Ukraine is prepared for negotiations at the highest level.
American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Moscow before potentially visiting Kyiv over the weekend, although officials had not formally confirmed the reported schedule.
The Kremlin also stopped short of confirming a Moscow meeting. Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the public would be informed if such talks were scheduled.
Witkoff and Kushner previously visited Moscow in January 2026, when they met Russian President Vladimir Putin. A trip to Kyiv would mark their first visit to the Ukrainian capital as part of these diplomatic efforts.
Following the January talks, Russian officials described the discussions as constructive but maintained that a lasting settlement would require resolving the highly contentious issue of territory.
PEACE PROCESS REMAINS STALLED
Momentum behind negotiations has weakened in recent months as Washington has increasingly focused its attention on the conflict involving Iran.
Putin acknowledged earlier this week that negotiations over Ukraine were effectively “frozen.”
Despite the lack of a breakthrough, Kyiv says it remains prepared for high-level negotiations and is urging Washington to remain actively involved.
The expected diplomatic meetings come against the backdrop of continued deadly attacks, underscoring the significant gap that remains between efforts to negotiate an end to the war and the continuing violence on the ground.
